Television program guide with a digital storage device

ABSTRACT

An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to select a program for recording onto the digital storage device. The program guide may then provide the user a list of programs that includes at least one listing for a recorded program. The user may select a recorded program listing and the program guide will transfer the corresponding program from the digital storage device to a secondary storage device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/383,281, filed Mar. 5, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998. All ofthese prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to video systems, and more particularly, tointeractive television program guide systems which allow for digitalstorage of programs and program related information.

Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers witha large number of television channels. Users have traditionallyconsulted printed television program schedules to determine the programsbeing broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactiveelectronic television program guides have been developed that allowtelevision program information to be displayed on a user's television.

Interactive program guides allow the user to navigate through televisionprogram listings using a remote control. In a typical program guidedisplay, television listings are organized into subsets of listingsaccording to multiple organization criteria and are sorted in variousways. One approach is to organize program listings into a programlistings grid. Each row in the grid contains television program listingsfor a different channel. The columns in the grid correspond to a seriesof scheduled broadcast times. The user can scroll up or down to viewprogram listings for different channels or may pan left or right to viewinformation about programs being broadcast at different times.

Recently, interactive program guides have been developed that allow forstorage of programs selected within the program guide on an independentstorage device, typically a videocassette recorder. Usually, a controlpath involving an infrared transmitter coupled to an infrared receiverin the videocassette recorder is used to control the videocassetterecorder. The use of independent analog storage devices likevideocassette recorders, however, does not allow for the more advancedfeatures that might be implemented if a digital storage device wereassociated with the program guide.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninteractive television program guide with digital storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the present invention by providing an interactiveprogram guide system with digital storage that allows the program guideto be used to provide more advanced features than previously offered byinteractive program guide systems.

Program guide data is provided by a data source in a satellite uplinkfacility. This information is transmitted to a television distributionfacility such as a cable headend via satellite link. The televisiondistribution facility distributes the information (and televisionprogramming signals) to user television equipment on which aninteractive television program guide is implemented. One suitabledistribution scheme involves transmitting television channels anddistributing the information for program listings in the verticalblanking interval of one of the channels or a sideband.

The user television equipment for receiving and processing thetelevision program listings and program data may include a set-top box.The set-top box is also able to receive the television programmingdistributed by the television distribution facility. The program guideimplemented on the set-top box processes television program listingsinformation and generates display screens (e.g., an interactivetelevision program guide grid) for display, e.g., on a standardtelevision monitor. The user can interact with the television programguide by entering commands via a user input interface. An illustrativeinput interface is an infrared remote control with cursor keys, a“guide” button, a “record” button, a “play” button, an “exit” button, an“info” button, and an “enter”, “select”, or “OK” button. The set-top boxmay store television programming and program information in a digitalstorage device associated with the program guide. The digital storagedevice may be an optical or a magnetic storage device (e.g., a deviceusing writable digital video discs, magnetic disks, or a hard drive orrandom access memory (RAM), etc.).

The use of a digital storage device associated with the program guideprovides the user with more advanced features than could be performedusing an independent analog storage device. For example, the currentinvention gives the user the ability to store information associatedwith recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage devicethereby providing easy access to program information. The program guidemay also provide a global media library for indicating the programsstored on removable storage media used with the program guide.Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be storedin a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback asif the program were being originally aired. The program guide alsoallows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence ofstored programs or program segments. The program guide may also providefor the transfer of programs and super-programs to other volumes of thedigital storage device or to a secondary storage device.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of illustrative user televisionequipment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of theillustrative television equipment of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4-14 are illustrative display screens in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIGS. 15-22 are flow charts of steps involved in the operation of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the present invention isshown in FIG. 1. Main facility 12 provides data from program guide datasource 14 to television distribution facility 16 via communications link18. There are preferably numerous television distribution facilities 16,although only one such facility is shown in FIG. 1 to avoidover-complicating the drawing. Link 18 may be a satellite link, atelephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, acombination of such links, or any other suitable communications path. Ifit is desired to transmit video signals over link 18 in addition to datasignals, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link maygenerally be preferred to a relatively low bandwidth link such as atelephone line. Television distribution facility 16 may be any suitabledistribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a broadcastdistribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, orany other suitable distribution facility.

The data transmitted by main facility 12 to television distributionfacility 16 includes television program listings data (e.g., programtimes, channels, titles, and descriptions) and other program data foradditional services other than television program listings (e.g.,weather information, associated Internet web links, computer software,etc.).

Television distribution facility 16 distributes the television programlistings and additional data to multiple users via communications paths20. Each user has user television equipment 22 for displaying thetelevision program listings information using an interactive televisionprogram guide. Communication paths 20 preferably have sufficientbandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16 to distributetelevision programming to user television equipment 22. If desired,television programming may be provided over separate communicationspaths (not shown).

An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 22 is shown inFIG. 2. Television equipment 22 of FIG. 2 receives video and data fromtelevision distribution facility 16 (FIG. 1) at input 26. During normaltelevision viewing, the user tunes set-top box 28 to a desiredtelevision channel. The signal for that television channel is thenprovided at video output 30. The outputted signal is typically either aradio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or4), or a demodulated video signal, but may also be a digital signalprovided to television 36 on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bususing the IEEE 1394 standard, (not shown)). The video signal at output30 is received by optional secondary storage device 32. Secondarystorage device 32 can be any suitable type of analog or digital programstorage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital video disc(DVD) player with the ability to record DVD discs, etc.). Programrecording and other features may be controlled by set-top box 28 usingcontrol path 34. If secondary storage device 32 is a videocassetterecorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of aninfrared transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver in thevideocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remotecontrol such as remote control 40. Remote control 40 may be used tocontrol set-top box 28, secondary storage device 32, and television 36.

The user may also record programs and program data in digital form ondigital storage device 31. Digital storage device 31 may be a writableoptical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handlingrecordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk driveor digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Digital storagedevice 31 preferably supports a directory structure containinginformation associated with stored entries. This directory informationcan be stored in one location, for example at the beginning or the endof the storage device. The directory information can also be distributed(e.g., by storing a portion of such information at the same location aseach entry). For removable storage media like DVDs, each storage unitmay have its own directory information, and the program guide may keep aglobal media library (discussed below).

Digital storage device 31 can be contained in set-top box 28 or it canbe an external device connected to set-top box 28 via an output port andappropriate interface. If necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box28 formats the received video, audio and data signals into a digitalfile format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such asthe Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard. The resultingdata is streamed to digital storage device 31 via an appropriate bus(e.g., a bus using the IEEE 1394 standard), and is stored on digitalstorage device 31.

Television 36 receives video signals from secondary storage device 32via communications path 38. The video signals on communications path 38may either be generated by secondary storage device 32 when playing backa prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a videocassette or a recordabledigital video disc), by digital storage device 31 when playing back apre-recorded digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box 28,may be provided directly to television 36 from set-top box 28 ifsecondary storage device 32 is not included in user television equipment22, or may be received directly by television 36. During normaltelevision viewing, the video signals provided to television 36correspond to the desired channel to which the user has tuned withset-top box 28. The video signals provided to television 36 may also beby set-top box 28 when set-top box 28 is used to play back informationstored on digital storage device 31.

When the user wishes to access the features of the program guide, theuser may use a “menu” key on remote control 40 or an appropriate keycorresponding to the desired feature. For example, if the user wishes toview programming information, a “guide” key on remote control 40 can beused. When set-top box 28 receives commands from remote control 40 thatinform set-top box 28 that the menu or other feature button has beenpressed, processing circuitry within set-top box 28 supplies informationthat is displayed on television 36 as described further below.

A more generalized embodiment of user television equipment 22 (FIG. 2)is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, program listings, programmingand program data associated with the programming (hereinafter“associated program data”) from television distribution facility 16(FIG. 1) are received by control circuitry 42 of user televisionequipment 22. Video signals are typically provided on multipletelevision channels. Associated program data and program listings may beprovided on a television channel sideband, in the vertical blankinginterval of a television channel, using an in-band digital channel,using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable datatransmission technique.

The user controls the operation of user television equipment 22 withuser input interface 46. User input interface 46 may be a pointingdevice, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad, voice recognitionsystem, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television,the user instructs control circuitry 42 to display a desired televisionchannel on monitor 45. To access the features of the program guide, theuser instructs the program guide implemented on user televisionequipment 22 to generate a main menu or a desired program guide displayscreen for display on monitor 45.

The functions of control circuitry 42 may be provided using the set-topbox arrangement of FIG. 2. Alternatively, these functions may beintegrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computertelevision (PC/TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, acombination of such arrangements may be used.

When a user indicates a desire to access the main menu or other featureof the program guide (e.g., by entering a command with user interface46), the program guide generates an appropriate program guide displayscreen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative main-menu screen 50 isshown in FIG. 4. From the main menu, the user can access any one of anumber of features of the program guide. Features indicated by main-menuscreen 50 may include program listings, recording schedules, the digitalstorage medium directory, program guide setup, transferring storedentries and super-programs to another volume or device, and global medialibrary. These and other features will be described below.

When main-menu screen 50 is displayed on monitor 45, the user may accessa feature by indicating a desire to do so. This can be done, forexample, by using user interface 46 to position movable highlight region56 over the desired feature. If user input interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user can positionhighlight region 56 by, for example, using “up”, “down”, “left”, and“right” cursor keys. The user can then access the desired feature byentering an appropriate command by, for example, using a “select” or“OK” key (hereinafter referred to as “selecting” the entry). Themain-menu screen may also consist of “buttons” which the user “pushes”by entering appropriate commands with user interface 46 (e.g., byhighlighting a button and selecting it). The program guide thengenerates the appropriate program guide display screen for display onmonitor 45.

When a user indicates a desire to view television programminginformation (e.g, by selecting program listings option 48 from main-menuscreen 50, or by using a “guide” key on remote control 40), the programguide generates an appropriate program listings screen for display onmonitor 45. A program listings screen may contain one or more lists ofprograms organized according to multiple organization criteria (e.g., byprogram type, theme, or any other pre-defined or user defined andselectable criteria) and sorted in various ways (e.g., alphabetically).The program listings screen may be overlaid over a program being viewedby the user or overlaid over a portion of the program in a “browse”mode.

One approach is to organize program listings into a program listingsgrid. An illustrative program listings grid 60 is shown in FIG. 5 a.Program listings grid 60 has program listings rows 62, 64, 66, and 68.Program listings row 62 contains selectable program listings forprograms 1 and 2 on channel 2 (Public Television). Program listings row64 contains selectable program listings for programs 1 and 2 on channel3 (HBO). Program listings row 66 contains selectable program listingsfor programs 1, 2, and 3 on channel 4 (NBC). Program listings row 68contains a selectable program listing for program 1 on channel 5 (FOX).The programs on each channel are typically different.

Program listings grid 60 preferably has movable cell highlight region61, which highlights the current grid cell. The range of movement ofhighlight region 61 is typically bounded by column 63 on the left, byprogram listings time cells 65 on the top, by screen boundary 67 on theright, and by lower screen boundary 69 on the bottom.

The user may position highlight region 61 by entering appropriatecommands with user interface 46. For example, if user input interface 46is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user canposition highlight region 61 using “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right”cursor keys. If the user repeatedly moves highlight region 61 until itreaches lower screen boundary 69, further attempts at downward movementcause the program listings to scroll in the vertical direction.

Similarly, the listings in grid 60 are moved when highlight region 61 ispanned (i.e., moved to the right or left). Panning highlight region 61to the right causes the program listings in all of the program listingsrows 62, 64, 66, and 68 to pan to the left by an equal amount. Thisallows new program listings to be displayed. Time cells 65 are adjustedaccordingly (i.e., by incrementing each cell by 30 minutes). Ifhighlight region 61 is panned to the left, the program listings in rows62, 64, 66, and 58 pan to the right.

After a user positions highlight region 61 on a desired selectableprogram listing, the user may access a number of program guide features.For example, the user may access additional information (typically textor graphics, but possible video) about the listing by selecting thatlisting. The user may obtain this information without exiting grid 60.The user makes selections by entering appropriate-selection commandswith user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use a“select”, “OK”, or “info” key to make a selection.

Making a selection directs the program guide to generate a programlisting information screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrativeprogram listing information screen 70 is shown in FIG. 6. Informationdisplayed in information screen 70 may include any informationassociated with the listing supplied by main facility 12. Theinformation may include, for example, the title of the selection, adescription, episode information, the channel, cast members, parentalcontrol ratings, categories, available language(s), available videoformats, or other information like associated Internet web sites orcomputer software.

The user can exit program listing information screen 70 by indicating adesire to exit the screen by, for example, entering appropriate commandswith user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may for example,use an “exit” or “last” key to exit the screen. The program guide mayrespond to a “last” command by generating the previous program guidedisplay screen for display on monitor 45. The program guide may respondto an “exit” command by returning the user to normal television viewing.

In an alternative embodiment, the program guide may also provideselectable listings of programs currently stored on digital storagedevice 49 in any form of list, table, or grid. The listings may beorganized according to selectable organization criteria and sorted. Oneapproach is to use a program listings grid, as shown in FIG. 5 b. Thismay be done, for example, by using row 145 of program listings grid 141to indicate currently stored programs, thereby treating digital storagedevice 49 like an additional channel. Multiple rows may be used toorganize listings according to organization criteria (e.g., by theme,program type, or any other pre-defined or user defined selectableorganization criteria). In each row, the listings may be sorted (e.g.,alphabetically).

Each entry in a different column 147 of row 145 may correspond to adifferent movie stored on digital storage device 49. To view additionaltitles, the user may, for example, pan right or left by using “right”and “left” cursor keys on remote control 40 of FIG. 2.

Just like program listings grid 60 of FIG. 5 a, program listings grid141 of FIG. 5 b may contain highlight region 149 to select listings inany of the rows, including row 145, and thereby access program listingsinformation screen 70 (FIG. 6) for a selected listing. If the userselects a program stored on digital storage device 49 (i.e., a listingin row 145), the program guide responds by obtaining the informationassociated with the listing for display in program listings informationscreen 70 from digital storage device 49, and by displaying programlistings information screen 70. The information for program listingsinformation screen 70 may be stored as a directory entry on digitalstorage device 49.

The user may also select a program stored on digital storage device 49from grid 141 for playback. If user interface 46 is a remote controlsuch as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use a digital “play”key to select the program whose listing in row 145 is surrounded byhighlight region 61. The program guide responds by issuing appropriatecommands to digital storage device 49 to read the selected program andto display the program. Any non-time-sensitive data associated with theprogram stored on digital storage device 49 may be presented to theviewer by the program guide just as it was presented when the programwas originally aired. This will be described more fully below. Theprogram guide may also provide features during playback which aresimilar to those provided for by current analog storage technologies(e.g., “fast-forward”, “rewind”, “pause”, and “stop”).

The program guide may also display an options screen in response to theuser selection of any program listing. Such an option screen may includeoptions like “playback”, “delete”, and “record” that the user may selecton-screen by issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46 (e.g,by positioning a highlight region over the desired feature and selectingthe feature, or by pushing an on-screen “button” that represents theoption).

The user may select a program and associated program data for recordingon digital storage device 49 without leaving grid 60 or grid 141. Theuser makes selections for digital recording by entering appropriateselection commands with user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If user interface 46is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user mayuse a digital “record” key to select the program whose listing issurrounded by highlight region 61 for digital recording. If desired, thedefault recording techniques used by the program guide may be digitalrecording.

Making a selection for digital recording causes the program guide togather information from the currently loaded digital storage medium.Such information may include the estimated amount of time remaining onthe storage medium (if, for example, the digital storage medium is apartially full disk). The program guide may also check directoryinformation on the digital storage medium and compare it to the selectedprogram listing to determine if the selected program has already beenrecorded. If the program guide determines that the selection has alreadybeen recorded, re-recording is not necessary. The program guide mayretain the information associated with the selected program listing(supplied by main facility 12 of FIG. 1) for access by the user (e.g.,using the recording schedule screen described below).

In response to an indication by the user to digitally record aselection, the programming guide may generate a recording schedulescreen for display on monitor 45. The recording schedule screen liststhe programs currently scheduled for recording on digital storage device49. An illustrative recording schedule screen 80 is shown in FIG. 7 a.Recording schedule screen 80 contains a number of pieces of informationwhich may include, for example, the volume name of the currently loadedmedium, an estimate of the amount of time remaining on the medium, and agrid 81 or other suitable list or table listing the programs currentlyscheduled for recording and relevant recording information. Grid 81 mayinclude the title of the selections, the channel for recording, therecording date and time, and the duration of the selection.

The user can access the associated program data supplied by mainfacility 12 of FIG. 1 of the programs scheduled to be recorded byindicating a desire to do so (e.g., by positioning highlight region 82on a desired program listing and pressing an “OK” key). In response tosuch an indication, the program guide generates a selected programlisting information screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrativeselected program listing information screen 84 is shown in FIG. 7 b. Aselected program listing information screen is similar to a programlisting information screen (see FIG. 6), but may also contain userfields that the user may edit to add information that the user desiresto associate with the program. FIG. 7 b shows illustrative userdescription field 85, user category field 86, and user other field 88.The user may edit the contents of these user fields by, for example,using user interface 46 to position highlight region 89 over the desiredfield and indicating the information that the user desires to associatewith the program. If user interface 46 is a remote control such asremote control 40 of FIG. 2, alphanumeric keys on remote control 40 maybe used, or the user may scroll through the alphabet using “up” and“down” keys to select individual letters and thereby form words in theuser fields.

If all of the information does not fit on a single screen, the user canscroll downward (and upward) to view the non-displayed information byindicating a desire to so by, for example, using “up” and “down” keys onremote control 40. The program guide responds to such an indication byscrolling the screen accordingly and showing the non-displayedinformation.

Recording schedule screen 80 of FIG. 7 a may also indicate which of theselections currently scheduled for recording will fit on the currentlyloaded storage medium (e.g., when a DVD is loaded in a DVD player). Thismay be done, for example, by using bold text or text of a differentcolor (see, e.g., M*A*S*H and TERMINATOR listings 89). Selections thatcannot fit may be indicated as such by a different indicator, likedotted line 83. Either or both indicators can be used and the typesshown in FIG. 7 a are for illustration purposes only.

The user can exit recording schedule screen 80 by indicating a desire todo so (e.g., by entering appropriate commands with user interface 46 ofFIG. 3). If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control40 of FIG. 2, the user may use, for example, an “exit” key to exit thescreen. When the command is given, the program guide may respond bygenerating the previous screen for display on monitor 45.

The user may also view recording schedule screen 80 when not in aprogram listings screen. For example, if user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may accessrecording schedule screen 80 when in main-menu screen 50 of FIG. 4 bypositioning highlight region 56 (FIG. 4) over recording schedule option52 and selecting recording schedule option 52. The user may also accessrecording schedule screen 80 by selecting a program from the programlistings screen and selecting an on-screen “recording schedule” optionfrom a list of on-screen options.

The user may also select programs and associated program data fordigital recording when not in program listings grid 60 by indicating adesire to do so during normal television operation (e.g., by enteringappropriate commands with user interface 46 of FIG. 3). If userinterface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40, this can bedone by using a “record” key during television viewing. The programguide responds by generating a recording screen for display on monitor45. An illustrative recording screen 87 is shown in FIG. 8. Recordingschedule screen 87 may display information of the program currentlybeing viewed by the user, such as the current channel, begin time, andend time for recording. The program guide may provide the user with theopportunity to edit the displayed information (e.g., the start and endtime) by issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Whenfinished, the program guide may return the user to normal televisionviewing and begin recording the selection, the program guide maygenerate a recording schedule screen for display on monitor 45 so thatthe viewer may see the recording schedule.

Before recording a new program and associated program data, the programguide may automatically cause digital storage device 49 to search foravailable space, and may store the program and associated program dataanywhere on digital storage device 49 (e.g., between two otherprograms). The program and associated program data may even be stored innon-contiguous space on the storage medium. A best-fit algorithm may beused to determine where to store the program based on available freespace and the length and format of the program.

The program guide may also store associated program data in a directoryentry of digital storage device 49. This data can include, for example,the date and time the program was recorded, the channel the program wasrecorded on, the time duration of the program, the program title anddescription, cast members, parental control ratings, program categories,episode information, recorded languages and video formats, Internetlinks, graphics, or any other information supplied by main facility 12of FIG. 1, the user, or the programmer.

Along with the program and associated program data, the program guidemay also store additional components of a program on digital storagedevice 49. This can include additional video formats, additionallanguages, additional subtitles, or other data that cannot be stored ina directory entry. The program guide will either store all of thesupplied video formats and languages, or store only the variant thatmatches the current viewer profile preferences (described below).

Unless associated program data is time sensitive, the user may interactwith the data stream during playback just as when the program wasoriginally aired. If, for example, associated program data is computersoftware that the user could have accessed when the program wasoriginally aired, the software may be stored on digital storage device49, so that the user can access the software during playback. Suchsoftware may be, for example, shopping software that allows the user toplace orders for purchasing goods offered in the program. Or, a programmay have associated with it an Internet link that the user can selectand access an Internet site.

The program guide may also allow a user to view the directoryinformation of the currently loaded storage medium. The user can accessthis feature by indicating a desire to do so by, for example, issuingthe appropriate commands with user interface 46. If user interface 46 isa remote control like remote control 40 of FIG. 2, this may be done byusing a “directory” or “list” key. This can also be done by accessingthe main menu 50 (FIG. 4) and positioning highlight region 56 overmedium directory option 53 and selecting medium directory option 53.

When the user indicates a desire to view the directory information forthe currently loaded storage medium, the program guide obtains directoryinformation from digital storage device 49 and generates a directorylisting screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative directorylisting screen 90 is shown in FIG. 9. Directory listing screen 90 mayindicate, for example, the volume name and available time left on thecurrently loaded storage medium. Directory listing screen 90 may alsoinclude directory listing grid 91.

Directory listing grid 91 contains information about entries stored ondigital storage device 49. This information may include any of thedirectory information stored on the medium and may be presentedaccording to the current viewer preferences (described below). It mayinclude, for example, the title, channel, record date, record time andduration of the entries. It may also include an indication of whetherthe entries have been viewed. Because the directory information fordirectory listing screen 90 is stored digitally, it may generally beaccessed rapidly (e.g., in a fraction of a second). This fast accesscapability makes the directory feature easy to use to quickly check thestatus of stored entries. This would not be possible if an analogstorage device such as a standard videocassette recorded were used.

The program guide may allow the user to access a full view of all of thedirectory information stored for an entry. The user may access thisfeature while in directory listing screen 90 by indicating a desire todo so by, for example, entering appropriate commands with user interface46. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40of FIG. 2, this can be done by positioning highlight region 95 over thedesired entry using “up” and “down” keys, and then selecting the entry,or by selecting an on-screen “info” option.

Once the user indicates a desire to view the full directory entryinformation of an entry, the program guide generates a full entryinformation screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative full entryinformation screen 100 is shown in FIG. 10. If the full directoryinformation does not fit on one screen, the user can scroll downward(and upward) by indicating a desire to do so by, for example, using “up”and “down” keys on remote control 40. In addition, user-defined fieldsmay be edited by positioning highlight region 101 over any user-definedfield and entering information into the highlighted field (e.g., withalphanumeric keys on remote control 40).

To exit full entry information screen 100, the user indicates a desireto do so by, for example, using an “exit” key on remote control 40. Theprogram guide responds by saving the directory information to digitalstorage device 49 if the information has changed and generating theprevious screen for display on monitor 45.

The program guide allows a user to play back a stored entry when theuser indicates a desire to do so by entering appropriate commands withuser interface 46. This can be done, for example, by selecting an entryfrom directory listing grid 91 and using a “play” button on remotecontrol 40, or by selecting an on-screen “play” option from a list ofon-screen options generated by the program guide in response to theselection of an entry by the user. Any non-time sensitive dataassociated with the program may be presented to the viewer by theprogram guide just as it was presented when the program was originallyaired.

The program guide may also edit a program and its associated data whenthe user indicates a desire to do so. This can by done, for example, byentering appropriate commands with user interface 46. If user interface46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, then thiscan be done by using “delete” keys in a particular way (such as by usingthe “delete” key twice), or by using a “partial” key, when the user isin directory listing screen 90. This may also be accomplished byselecting an on-screen “edit” option provided by the program guide inresponse to the selection of a program listing or directory entry.

Once the user indicates a desire to edit a program, the program guidegenerates an edit screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative editscreen 110 is shown in FIGS. 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c. Screen 110 indicatesthe entry to be edited and other relevant information. This informationmay include, for example, the title, channel, record date, record time,and duration of the entry. Screen 110 may also contain edit indicator115 for indicating the portion of the entry for deletion. Indicator 115may have start time 116, end time 117, markers 118 and 140, andhighlight region 119. Screen 110 may also have video feedback area 113for showing the user the portion of the program corresponding to theposition of markers 118 and 140.

Highlight region 119 is initially positioned by the program guide so asto surround one of the markers, for example marker 118. The user mayindicate a desired starting time for deleting by positioning marker 118(FIG. 11 b). This may be done, for example, by entering appropriatecommands with user interface 46. If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, this can be done by using“left” and “right” buttons of remote control 40 to slide marker 118 leftand right. As the position of marker 118 is changed, its current timeposition (“marker time”) 120 is displayed as shown in FIGS. 11 b and 11c. The beginning portion of a program is edited by leaving marker 118 inits initial position.

When the desired start time position is indicated by marker 118, theuser can select marker 140 to define the end of the program segment by,for example, using the “OK” key of remote control 40. The program guideresponds by positioning highlight region 119 around marker 140. The usermay indicate the end time of the portion of the program to be deletedby, for example, positioning marker 140 in the same way that marker 118was positioned, as shown in FIG. 11 c.

Video feedback area 113 may display the portion of the programcorresponding to markers 118 and 140 as the markers are positioned bythe user. The program guide may also provide the user with theopportunity to view the portion of the program selected for deletion ina “fast-forward” playback mode, once the program portion is selected.

After the user is finished, the program guide may allow the user tocontinue to edit additional segments. The program guide may also returnthe user to a previous screen (e.g., directory listing screen 90) or tonormal television viewing, when the user indicates a desire to do so(e.g., using a “last” or “exit” key on remote control 40). The programguide may also provide the user with the opportunity to confirm that theportion selected for deletion is properly defined.

Once the program portion or portions are defined, the program guideissues appropriate commands to digital storage device 49 to delete theselected program segment, additional components, and associated data asappropriate. For example, the program guide may immediately displaydirectory listing screen 90 and issue appropriate commands to digitalstorage device 49 to delete the selected portion and update thedirectory information associated with that portion, if appropriate.

The program guide may also allow the user to define “super-programs”.Super-programs are sequences of programs or program segments that theguide will play back sequentially in a specified order. The user mayindicate the desire to access the super-program feature by, for example,entering appropriate commands with user interface 46. If user interface46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user mayuse a “super-program” key on remote control 40 after positioning ahighlight region such as highlight region 95 of directory listing screen90 (FIG. 9) over a desired program listing (e.g., M*A*S*H*), or byselecting an on-screen “super-program” option from a list of on-screenoptions which are provided by the program guide when a program isselected.

The program guide may also provide the user with the ability to namesuper-programs and to store them on digital storage device 49. Entriesfor the named super-programs may be kept in the directory maintained ondigital storage device 49, and may be displayed in screens which listdirectory entries (e.g., directory listing screen 90), along with thedirectory entries for program listings. For example, when directorylisting screen 90 is displayed by the program guide, the program guidemay provide the user with the opportunity to select a namedsuper-program.

In response to the user selection of a named super-program, the programguide may generate a super-program screen for display on monitor 45. Theprogram guide may also provide the user with an on-screen list ofoptions for performing super-program functions (e.g., playing,transferring or editing the super-program).

When the user indicates a desire to define a super-program, the programguide generates a super-program screen for display on monitor 45. Anillustrative super-program screen 130 is shown in FIGS. 12 a and 12 b.

Super-program screen 130 is organized into three areas. Area 131indicates the selections stored on digital storage device 49 (or thecurrently loaded digital storage medium of digital storage device 49).Area 132 indicates the super-program sequence. Video feedback area 137displays the portion of the program included in the super-program.Super-program screen 130 may also indicate the volume name of and timeremaining on the currently loaded storage medium.

The three areas of super-program screen 130 may also be presented onlywhen needed. For example, area 131 may be displayed only when theprogram guide is providing the user with the opportunity to select aprogram stored on digital storage device 49. Once the user has selecteda program, area 131 may be removed and area 132 may replace it while theprogram guide is providing the user with the opportunity to define aprogram segment for inclusion in the super-program. Video feedback area137 may be displayed only in response to an indication by the user tothe program guide to display the program segment. Thus, it may not benecessary for all three areas to be displayed at once.

To define a super-program, the user indicates which program is to beincluded in the super-program sequence. The program guide may also givethe user the ability to include in the current super-program otherpreviously defined super-programs. Area 131 includes a directory listinggrid 133 for listing the programs and super-programs stored on digitalstorage device 49. If the user interface is a remote control such asremote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use “up” and “down” keys toposition highlight region 134 on top of the desired program orsuper-program. The user may then select a program or super-program byusing a “select” or “OK” key on remote control 40. The user may alsoaccess other information associated with the entry by using an “info”key on remote control 40, or by selecting a suitable option from anon-screen options list provided by the super-program. The program guidegenerates a full entry information screen containing informationassociated with the selected program when the “info” key is pressed.

Whenever the user selects a program, the program guide places theselected entry in the super-program sequence at a defined point in thesequence (e.g., at the end of the sequence). As shown in FIG. 12 a, forexample, a first segment entry has been selected by the user and theuser is currently selecting the second segment entry. The segmententries are listed in second area 132. The user then has the option ofdefining the play segment of the program to be played. Indicators 135indicate the currently defined play segment.

If the user wishes to define a play segment, the user may do so, forexample, by using markers 136 to define the segment in the same mannerdescribed for editing programs. As shown in FIG. 12 b, the user useshighlight region 134 (positioned by the program guide over one of themarkers) to move the markers 136 to define the play segment. Videofeedback area 137 displays the portion of the program corresponding tomarkers 136 as markers 136 are individually positioned. The user mayindicate he or she is finished defining the play segment by, forexample, using an “OK” key on remote control 40. The program guide thenresponds to this indication by positioning highlight region 134 (FIG. 12a) in first area 131 to allow the user to define another entry in thesuper-program sequence.

The user may indicate that he or she is finished defining thesuper-program by issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, the user may use a “play” key to finish editing the super-program andplay the super-program. The user may also select an on-screen “play”option from a list of on-screen options provided by the program guide.

The program guide responds by issuing the appropriate instructions todigital storage device 49 to read the programs and associated programdata of the defined super-program sequence. The program guide theninstructs television equipment 22 to provide the program and anyassociated data (e.g., software) in the appropriate format for displayon monitor 45 and use by the user as if the user were viewing theprogram when it was originally aired. If monitor 45 is a television, forexample, user television equipment 22 may convert the program from itsdigital format to the appropriate RF or demodulated video signal fordisplay on monitor 45.

The user may also store the super-program for playback or editing at alater time. The user may indicate a desire to postpone playback by, forexample, issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. If userinterface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2,the user may use an “exit” key on remote control 40 or select anon-screen “exit” option. Control circuitry 42 responds to an indicationto postpone playback by storing the playback sequence (either in memoryor on the digital storage device). The user may later access thesuper-program by, for example, selecting the super-program while indirectory listing screen 90. The program guide may respond by providingan on-screen list of options (e.g., edit, play back, transfer) that theuser may select from. The program guide may also respond by generating asuper-program screen with the previously entered selections and definedplay-segments, providing the user with the opportunity to add, edit orre-order the programs and program segments.

The program guide may also allow the user to transfer programs andsuper-programs stored on digital storage device 49 to other volumes ofdigital storage device 49 or to secondary storage device 47 (FIG. 3.).Secondary storage device 47 may be another storage device available inthe home network system like a videocassette recorder, a recordabledigital video disc device, a computer (with an appropriate storagedevice), or other digital storage device. This feature may be accessedby, for example, issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, the user may use a “record” or “transfer” key when in thesuper-program screen, or, for example, the user may select a “transfer”option from an on-screen list of options provided by the program guidein response to the user selecting a super-program from directory listingscreen 90.

The program guide responds to this indication by issuing appropriateinstructions to digital storage device 49 to read the selected programsand associated data or the programs and associated data of the selectedsuper-program sequence. The program guide then transfers the programsand associated data (if possible) in an appropriate format to secondaryprogram data storage device 47. If, for example, secondary storagedevice 47 is a videocassette recorder, the program guide directs usertelevision equipment 22 to convert the digitally stored program orsuper-program into an appropriate analog format.

Transferring the data (e.g., software) associated with a program orsuper-program may not be possible with some analog secondary storagedevices, so the program guide may accordingly ignore the associated dataduring transfer. The program guide may, however, provide for thelabeling of analog storage media with associated data. Program guidesthat provide for labeling videocassettes with program information aredescribed, for example, in Blackwell U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/924,813, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

The programs and data may also be transferred directly from digitalstorage device 49 to secondary storage device 47 via channel 43 ifdesired. The program guide may also transfer the programs and data toanother volume of digital storage device 49.

If digital storage device 49 is a device that uses removable recordingmedia (e.g., floppy disks or recordable optical discs) the program guidemay also allow a user to view a global media library screen whichindicates directory information of removable storage media used with theprogram guide. The user may access this feature by indicating a desireto do so by, for example entering appropriate commands with userinterface 46. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remotecontrol 40 of FIG. 2, this may be done by, for example, using a“library” key. This may also be done by accessing main menu 50 (FIG. 4)and positioning highlight region 56 over global media library option 57and selecting media library option 57.

The global media library may be maintained automatically by the programguide. For example, the program guide may store or update directoryentry information according to the current viewer preferences (describedbelow) in a central storage area (e.g., random access memory (RAM) or acentral hard disk drive) each time directory information is stored orupdated on a removable storage medium. The program guide may also storeunique identifiers identifying the removable storage medium on whichprograms are stored (e.g., volume names or media numbers).

An illustrative global media library screen 250 is shown in FIG. 13.Global media library screen 250 may display program listings in anylist, table, grid or other suitable form that contains information aboutstored entries on removable storage media used in digital storage device49. Listings may be grouped into subsets of listings according tomultiple organization criteria and sorted in various ways. Anotherapproach is to display the listings in a library listing grid, such aslibrary listing grid 251. Library listing grid 251 may include a row foreach removable storage medium used with digital storage device 49 (e.g.,rows 261, 262, 263, 264, and 265), and columns for each program storedon each removable storage medium (e.g., columns 271, 272, and 273). Auser may access additional storage media and additional programs notdisplayed by, for example, scrolling up and down or panning left andright.

Just like directory listing screen 90 of FIG. 9, global media libraryscreen 250 of FIG. 13 allows the user to access features of the programguide already described (e.g., by positioning highlight region 257around a listing and selecting the listing), which may include accessinga full entry information screen, playing back, deleting and partiallydeleting programs, and defining super-programs containing programs fromdifferent storage media. These features may also be accessed by the userby selecting the desired feature from a list of on-screen optionsprovided by the program guide in response to the selection of a listingby the user.

If the user indicates a desire to access a feature of the program guidewhich operates on a medium that is not currently loaded in digitalstorage device 49, the program guide may automatically change the loadedstorage medium if digital storage device 49 has the ability to do so.Digital storage device 49 may be, for example, an optical jukebox withmultiple recordable optical discs. If the user selects a program on adisc not currently positioned before a read/write head of the jukebox,the jukebox re-arranges the discs until the disc with the selectedprogram is positioned for reading or writing. If the disc with theselected program is not in the jukebox, the program guide may displayindication 255 to the user that the disc must be loaded. The programguide may also display such an indication if, for example, digitalstorage device 49 is a floppy disk drive and the disk with the selectedprogram is not in the drive. Indication 255 may include a uniqueidentifier identifying the unloaded storage medium. Preferably, theunique identifier is not displayed for the user unless the requiredremovable storage medium is not loaded.

If digital storage device 49 uses removable storage media (e.g., floppydisks or recordable optical disks), the program guide may provide theuser with the opportunity to enter an identifier that identifies theremovable storage medium on which the program is stored. The identifiermay be a volume name, a medium number, or other suitable uniqueindicator.

The program guide may also allow the user to choose various selectableoptions and select the types of information for display in variousscreens. The user can access this feature by indicating a desire to doso by, for example, using user interface 46 to enter appropriatecommands. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remotecontrol 40 of FIG. 2, the user can indicate a desire to access thisfeature by selecting set-up option 54 from the main menu screen of FIG.4, or by using a “set-up” key on remote control 40.

When the user indicates a desire to access the set-up feature of theprogram guide, control circuitry 42 generates a set-up screen fordisplay on monitor 45. The set-up feature allows a user to selectoptions and set user preferences. An illustrative set-up screen 220 isshown in FIG. 14. Set-up screen 220 can be organized into parts. Forexample, one part may be used to handle entry information displayoptions, another may be used to handle storage options, and another maybe used to handle playback options.

Entry information area 121 is an example of how set-up screen 120 may beused to display selectable components that the user may select fordisplay in screens that display program information (e.g., programlistings grid 50, recording schedule screen 80, and directory listingscreen 90). Unselected directory components cannot be viewed from suchscreens, and can only be viewed in full information view (e.g., programlisting entry information screen 70 and full entry information screen100).

Storage option area 222 allows the user to select options relating tostorage. For example, the user can select the language tracks or videoformats for storing with a program. The user can also set whether aparental control feature applies to the recording of programs which donot meet certain parental control criteria. The user may also choosewhether the program guide automatically erases entries from digitalstorage device 49 once the entries are viewed. When erased, an entry'sdirectory information and additional components are also removed fromdigital storage device 49.

Playback option area 233 allows the user to select options related toplayback. One selectable feature, for example, is a skip commercialfeature. If active, the program guide attempts to distinguish programmaterial from advertisements based on data recorded with the programmingor other suitable cues. Any material identified as advertising isautomatically skipped during playback. The user may also set defaultlanguages and video formats for playback.

Steps involved in operating the program guide of the present inventionare set forth in FIGS. 15-20. FIG. 15 illustrates an overview of stepsinvolved in accessing a number of features of the program guide. Thesteps illustrated by FIGS. 15-20 are illustrative and may be performedin any order.

At step 400 of FIG. 15, the programs and associated program data arestored on digital storage device 49 using the program guide. At step402, additional components are digitally stored. At step 404, theprograms and associated program data are displayed on monitor 45 (FIG.3) using the program guide. The programs and associated program data maybe displayed on monitor 45 so as to provide the user with access to theprograms and associated program data as if the programs and associatedprogram data were being originally aired, as set forth in step 406.

At steps 408, 410, 412, and 414 the program guide displays on monitor 45a set-up screen (such as set-up screen 220 of FIG. 14), a recordingschedule screen (such as recording schedule screen 80 of FIG. 7 a), aprogram listings screen (such as a screen containing program listingsgrid 60 of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b), and an edit screen (such as edit screen110 of FIGS. 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c). At step 416, the program guidetransfers the programs and associated program data (if possible) toanother volume of digital storage device 49 or to secondary storagedevice 47 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 16 illustrates steps involved providing the user with the abilityto define selectable options. At step 424, the program guide providesthe user with the opportunity to define storage options. If language,video format, enforcement of parental control, and auto-erase storageoptions are provided (FIG. 15), the program guide stores the programsand associated program data on digital storage device 49 according tohow the storage options are defined as set forth in steps 426, 428, 430,and 432 respectively.

The program guide may also provide the user with the opportunity todefine playback options, as set forth in step 434. If default language,default video format, and skip advertising playback options areprovided, the program guide displays the programs and associated programdata on monitor 45 according to how the options are defined as set forthin steps 436, 438, 440, respectively.

FIG. 17 illustrates steps involved in providing a user with theopportunity to record programs and associated program data on digitalstorage device 49. At step 410, the program guide displays a recordingschedule screen, such as recording schedule screen 80 of FIG. 7 a, onmonitor 45. At step 450, the program guide indicates on monitor 45 theprograms currently scheduled for storage on digital storage device 49.At step 452, the program guide provides the user with the opportunity toselect one of the indicated programs.

The program guide may also display a selected program listinginformation screen, such as selected program listing information screen84 of FIG. 7 b, for a selected program on monitor 45 as set forth instep 454. The program guide displays one or more fields of associatedprogram data in step 456, and may also display one or more user fieldsin step 458. At step 460, the program guide provides a user with theopportunity to enter information into user fields 460. At step 462, theprogram, associated data and additional components are stored on digitalstorage device 49.

The program guide may also provide the user with the opportunity torecord programs during television viewing at step 464. At step 466, theprogram guide generates a recording screen for display on monitor 45. Atstep 468, the program guide provides the user with the opportunity toedit recording information, such as begin and end time. At step 470, theprogram guide provides the user with the opportunity to access therecording schedule screen. The program guide displays the recordingschedule screen (step 410) or begins recording programs, associateddata, and components (step 462) depending on the indication from theuser.

FIG. 18 illustrates steps involved in displaying program listings andprogram listing information on monitor 45. The program guide may displaya program listings screen on monitor 45 at step 412. The program guidemay include in the program listings screen a program listings grid(sub-step 470). At step 472, the program guide provides the user withthe opportunity to define and select organization criteria (e.g., theme,program type, etc.) and chose a sorting method (e.g., alphabetically)for organizing and sorting the listings. At step 474, the program guideprovides the user with the opportunity to select a program listing. Theprogram guide may also display on monitor 45 a program listingsinformation screen, such as program listings information screen 70 ofFIG. 6, indicating associated program listing information.

At step 478, the program guide may provide a list of on-screen optionsthat the user can select to access program guide features. For example,there may be on-screen “record” and “super-program” options. Ifsuper-programs and stored entries are included in the program listingsscreen, the program guide may also provide on-screen “transfer” and“playback” options. The program guide displays programs, associateddata, and additional components at step 480. This may be program, data,and components of the selected listing. At step 480 the program guidemay also return the user to the program being viewed before the programlistings screen was accessed. Step 480 may also correspond to where theuser watches television programming before having accessed the programlistings screen.

Other steps involved in accessing programs and associated data stored ondigital storage device 49 are set forth in FIG. 19. The program guidestores programs and associated program data on digital storage device 49at step 406. At step 488, the program guide maintains a directory of thestored associated program data. At step 490, the program guide displaysa directory listing screen, such as directory listing screen 90 of FIG.9, on monitor 45. The program guide indicates directory entryinformation at step 492 (by, for example, displaying directory listinggrid 92 of FIG. 9 on monitor 45), and provides a user with theopportunity to select directory entry information at step 494. At step495, the program guide provides the user with an on-screen list ofoptions (e.g., “playback”, “transfer”, “super-program”, etc.).

Steps involved in displaying additional information for a selected entryare set forth in steps 496, 498, 500, and 502. At step 496 the programguide displays a full entry information screen, such as full entryinformation screen 100 of FIG. 10, on monitor 45. At step 498, theprogram guide displays fields of directory entry information on monitor45, and at step 500 the program guide displays user-defined fields onmonitor 45. At step 502, the program guide provides the user with theopportunity to enter user information in the user-defined fields.

Steps involved in editing programs and associated program dataassociated with directory entry information are set forth in steps 504,506, 508, and 510 of FIG. 20. The program guide displays an edit screen,such as edit screen 110 of FIGS. 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c, on monitor 45. Atstep 506, the program guide provides a user with the opportunity todefine the portions of stored programs and associated program data to beedited by the program guide. At step 508 the program guide displays avideo feedback area on monitor 45. The program guide edits the portionsof stored programs and associated data from digital storage device 45 atstep 510.

Steps involved in providing the global media library feature of thepresent invention are set forth in FIG. 21. At step 522, the programguide stores programs and associated program data on removable digitalstorage media in digital storage device 49. At step 524, the programguide maintains a global media library of the stored associated programdata. The program guide displays a global media library screen, such asglobal media library screen 250 of FIG. 13, on monitor 45 at step 526.At step 528 the program guide provides a user with the opportunity toselect a program indicated by the global media library screen. If thedigital storage medium containing the selected program is not loaded indigital storage device 49, the program guide displays on monitor 45 anindication that the storage medium is not loaded at step 530.

Steps involved in providing the super-program feature of the presentinvention are set forth in FIG. 22. The program guide stores programsand associated program data on digital storage device 45 at step 532. Atstep 534, the super-program sequence is defined. This may be done bydisplaying a super-program screen, such as super-program screen 130 ofFIGS. 12 a and 12 b, on monitor 45 as set forth in step 536. Storedprograms are indicated by the program guide on monitor 45 at step 538,and the program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select theindicated programs at step 540. The program guide displays the programsand associated program data which are part of the super-program sequenceon monitor 45 according to the super-program sequence at step 550.

Further steps involved in providing the super-program feature are setforth in steps 524, 544, 546, and 548. At step 542, the program guideprovides the user with the opportunity to define play segments. Theprogram guide may display a play segment indicator and marker fordefining the play segment, as indicated by step 544. At step 546, theprogram guide displays a video feedback area on monitor 45. The programguide displays the play segments of programs and associated program dataon monitor 45 according to the super-program sequence at step 548.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A method of playing back programs using userequipment, comprising: receiving programs with the user equipment from aserver; storing the programs on a digital storage device, wherein thedigital storage device is included in the user equipment; and creating aplayback sequence with the user equipment, wherein the playback sequenceincludes two or more of the programs stored on the digital storagedevice and wherein the playback sequence specifies an order that theprograms will be played back by the user equipment.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the two or more of the programs have a common theme.26. The method of claim 24 further comprising: generating a list ofprograms based on the playback sequence; and displaying the list ofprograms, wherein the list of programs: includes listings associatedwith the two or more programs, and indicates to a user the playbacksequence.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the order specified by theplayback sequence is unrelated to when the programs were stored on thedigital storage device.
 28. The method of claim 24 further comprising:receiving a user input indicating the user's desire to add anotherprogram to the playback sequence; and adding the program to a userspecified point in the playback sequence.
 29. The method of claim 28,wherein the user specified point is the end of the playback sequence.30. The method of claim 24 further comprising playing back the programsin the playback sequence in the order specified.
 31. The method of claim24 further comprising storing the playback sequence.
 32. The method ofclaim 31 further comprising transferring the playback sequence to asecondary storage device.
 33. The method of claim 24 further comprisingediting the playback sequence.
 34. The method of claim 33, whereinediting the playback sequence comprises re-ordering the playbacksequence.
 35. A system for playing back programs comprising: a displayscreen; a digital storage device for storing programs; and aninteractive program guide implemented at least partially on circuitryconfigured to: create a playback sequence, wherein the playback sequenceincludes two or more of the programs stored on the digital storagedevice and wherein the playback sequence specifies an order that theprograms will be played back.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein thetwo or more of the programs have a common theme.
 37. The system of claim35, wherein the interactive program guide is further configured to:generate a list of programs based on the playback sequence; and displaythe list of programs, wherein the list of programs: includes listingsassociated with the two or more programs, and indicates to a user theplayback sequence.
 38. The system of claim 35, wherein the orderspecified by the playback sequence is unrelated to when the programswere stored on the digital storage device.
 39. The system of claim 35,wherein the interactive program guide is further configured to: receivea user input indicating the user's desire to add another program to theplayback sequence; and add the program to a user specified point in theplayback sequence.
 40. The system of claim 39, wherein the userspecified point is the end of the playback sequence.
 41. The system ofclaim 35, wherein the interactive program guide is further configured toplay back the programs in the playback sequence in the order specified.42. The system of claim 35, wherein the interactive program guide isfurther configured to store the playback sequence on the digital storagedevice.
 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the interactive programguide is further configured to transfer the playback sequence to asecondary storage device from the digital storage device.
 44. The systemof claim 35, wherein the interactive program guide is further configuredto edit the playback sequence.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein theinteractive program guide is further configured to re-order the playbacksequence.
 46. A method of playing back a program using user equipmentcomprising: storing one or more programs on a digital storage device,wherein the digital storage device is included in the user equipment;generating one or more non-sequential program segments from the one ormore programs; combining, in a specified order, at least two of the oneor more non-sequential program segments into a super program; and inresponse to receiving a command to playback the super-program, playingback the at least two of the one or more non-sequential program segmentsin the specified order.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the one ormore non-sequential program segments exclude advertisements.
 48. Themethod of claim 46, wherein playing back further comprises: providingprogram data associated with the super-program.
 49. The method of claim46, further comprising: in response to receiving a command to store thesuper-program, storing the super-program.